Conducted by maestro Mohamed Bouslama, the Tunisian Symphony Orchestra, alongside an exceptional ensemble of artists, delivered a psychodramatic experience where identity, memory, emotions, and senses intertwined to defy the laws of time and transport the audience through universal and intimate narratives.
Featuring talents such as Nay Barghouti (Palestine), Najoua Omar, Mohamed Ali Chebil, Zied Zouari, Houssine Ben Miloud, Hedi Fahem, Saber Radouani, Nasreddine Chably, Hamdi Jammousi, Sirine Harabi, and Baha Eddine Ben Fadhel (Tunisia), the performance transcended cultural and geographical boundaries. True to its title, it opened a gateway to the imagination, drawing from the heritage of reality while exploring the realm of possibilities. The music, with its powerful and profound rhythms, transformed the venue into a crossroads where collective heritage and personal experiences converged.
One of the performance’s striking techniques was the creation of a suspended space between the spoken and the unspoken, where language, at times inexpressible, became a tool of expression. Through impactful interventions, narrator Mohamed Mrad punctuated the stage with phrases like “Imagine…,” “Do you remember…?”, “Smile…,” “Forgive…,” and “Lift your head and look up!” His voice, combined with a commanding stage presence, amplified the work’s allure, enhanced by the instrumental play and the vocal and choreographic performances of the artists.
A heartfelt tribute to Palestine marked the event, reaffirming Tunisian-Palestinian solidarity. Songs dedicated to Gaza, accompanied by the Palestinian flag displayed on a large screen, resonated as a cry of solidarity with the suffering Palestinian people, facing famine and oppression. These carefully integrated moments lent a humanistic and committed dimension to the work, deeply moving the audience.
"Imagine: Your Soul Listens" is not merely a musical performance but an invitation to listen to the soul, question identity, and revive collective memory. By blending tradition and modernity, this experimental work created a timeless dialogue between hearts and minds, leaving an indelible mark on the history of the Carthage Festival
